The mindsets of many businesses as well as consumers have shifted to extreme apprehension. Those of us who manage to navigate the fear-based environment of 2019 will be flexible in our pricing. In some ways, yes, it's back to 2008. Back then, every buyer expected a bargain.

Sure, there are those elite businesses such as Cravath law firm ("you never get fired hiring Cravath") which can continue premium pricing. That's them.

Here are 4 tips for marketing and sales for 2019:

Position and package yourself as existing to help, not sell. That's the old selling as non-selling.

Stop being a nuisance on LinkedIn Updates with all the links to articles in the Harvard Business Review and other derivative material. If you have your own insight, then that's shareable.

Be accessible. Talking can calm prospects down and only when they are calm enough can they transact business.

Let prospects know you are on their side, therefore are negotiable in terms and conditions of the sale such as pricing.

During Q4 of 2018, I had already picked up on that the end was near (end of bull market, end of recovery, end of professional services as stuck in the 20th century). I redid my own promotional content and mode of interaction to return to the openness of 2008 in marketing and sales.